Watceoase



(No Model.)

, 2 Sheets'-Sheet k1. F. MINK.

WATGHGA'SE.

Patented Peb. 28,1893.

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(No Model.)

2 sheetssheet .2 P. MINK. WATGHGASE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRITZ MINK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEYSTONEIVATOI-I' OASE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,629, dated February28, 1893.

Application led December 19, 1839. Serial No. 534.344. (No model.)

To all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ MINK, of the city and county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Vatchcases,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to watch cases; and consists of certainimprovements which are fully set forth in the following specificationand are shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The chief improvement of myinvention consists in the devices forsecuring the watch movement or the movement holding ring securely andremovably within the Watch case, and in making those devices adjustableso as to be suited to movements of different thicknesses. It isdesirable for the perfect operation of a watch movement that it shouldbe firmly secured within the case and that the dial plate should befirmly held or secured to the front of the movement and not allowed tobecome loosened therefrom.

Different kinds or makes of movements are employed in watch making andthese vary more or less in thickness, and, with the devices heretoforeemployed for securing them in the watch case, it has not been possibleto adapt the same case to movements of different thickness withoutmaking alterations or changes therein. Difficulty has also beenexperienced in securely fastening the dial plate to the movement whichis a serious matter since the loosening of the dial plate interfereswith the movement of the hands and may entirely stop the watch or causeit to keep imperfect time.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties, and toproduce a watch case in which the movement clamping devices areadjustable so as to be suited, without change or alterations in the caseitself, to movements of different thicknesses, and in which the dialplate is securely held to the front of the movement and prevented frombecoming loosened therefrom.

In addition to these improvements my invention consists of certain novelcombinations of parts and improvements in construction, which arehereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For securing the movement within the case I employ an adjustableclamping ring, which is screwed down upon the movement or movementholding ring so as to force it upon an annular supportingy shoulder. Thepressure eX- erted by this clamping ring is uniform about the entire rimof the movement or movement holding ring, so that the latter is securedevenly and firmly in place. By unscrewing the clamping ring the movementmay be readily removed if desired. This clamping ring is screwed down toa greater or less degree to suit the thickness of the movementemployedand in that manner is adjustable to different thicknesses of movements.

So far as the clamping devices for securing the movement within the caseare concerned my invention is not limited to any particular constructionof case and the clamping ring itself may be modified in many wayswithout departing from the principles of my invention and in thedrawings I have illustrated many of' these modifications.

Referring now to the drawingsz-Figure l is a sectional side elevation ofa watch case embodying the principles of my invention, and Figs. 2 to 18inclusive are similar views of a portion of a watch case illustratingdifferent modifications of my invention and showing the clamping ringapplied to different kinds of cases.

In all of the figures of the drawings the same letters of referencereferto similar parts.

A is the watch case center, and A is the back, which may be madeintegral with the center as a combined back and center, as shown inFigs. 1, 2,3,4 and 8,0rseparate from the center as shown in the otherfigures.

B is the watch movement having the usual flange b.

C is a movement holding ring which may be employed or dispensed withaccording to the particular construction of the watch case.

D is the clamping ring for adj ustably clam p4- ing the movement of thewatch.

E is the glass or crystal at the front of the watch.

F is the inner back or cap which is used in some kinds of cases and isshown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 9, l0, 12, 14.-, 16 and 18.

I is an annularl supporting shoulder for the tlange b of the movement B,against which the movement is clamped by means of the clamping ring D.This shoulder is carried by the center of the watch case A and it may bemade integral with the center or on the movement holding ring which issupported by the center or stationary with reference thereto. Themovement B is inserted in the watch case so that its flange Z) issupported by the shoulder and the clamping ring D is then screwed to thecenter, so as to force the liange b upon the shoulder I to firmly andevenly clamp the movement in the case. It will be seen that thisclamping ring D may be screwed down to a greater or less degree to suitthe thickness of the movement, so that it is adjustable for diiterentmovements. Obviously this clamping ring is susceptible of a greatvariety of moditieations without departing from the principles of theinvention. In Figs. l, 6,10, and l2 it is shown screwed in from thefront of the caseindependent of the glass and bezel, and it may beconstructed also carrying the glass E as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4c &e.

D is a second clamping ring similar in general principles to theclamping ring D, which maybe employed in connection with it screwed inon the opposite side of the movement, whereby the latter may be adjustedbetween these two clamping rings, as shown in Figs. 13, 14, l5, 17 and1S.

G (Fig. l5) is an inner glass for the back ot the watch, which is usedin some forms of cases and is shown in that view as carried by theclamping ring.

H is the top lid or cover shown in the hunting eases.

.I (Fig. l) is a removable bezel for the glass E.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A watch case having a iiange or support for a movement, a watchmovementsupported thereby, said case having a screw threaded rim ofmetal projecting above the movement on the face side thereof whensupported by said dange, and a screw threaded adjustable clamping ring,adapted for attachment to said screw threaded rim of the case to clampthe movement upon the support or tlange,having its screw threadedsurface unobstructed for a depth greater than the depth of the rim ofmetal projecting above the face ot' the movement when supported by theflange.

2. A watch case provided with a flange or support for a movement, andhaving an annular screw threaded portion adjacent to the face side ofthe case, in combination with a watch movement supported by said flange,and an adjustable clamping ring adjustably attached to said casehavingits surface which is attached to said case provided with screwthreads for said attachment and unobstructed for a depth greater thanthe depth of the annular screw threaded portion of the case t0 which itis attached.

3. A watch case provided with an adjustable flange or support for amovement, and having an annular screw threaded portion adjacent to theface side of the case, in combination with a watch movement supported bysaid iiange, and an adjustable clamping ring adjustably attached to saidcase having its surface which is attached to said case provided withscrew threads for said attachment and unobstructed for a depth greaterthan the depth of the annular screw threaded portion of the case towhich it is attached.

In testimony of which invention I havehereunto set my hand.

FRITZ MINK.

Witnesses:

H. L. ROBERTS, J osEPH M. CANFLELD.

